Improvement in valve-motions for steam-engines



UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

' FRED B. RICE, OF DUN KIRK, N EW YORILASSIGNOR TO MRS. M. J. TURRELL,

OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENTlN VALVE-MOTIONS FOR STEAM-NGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,535, dated August 28, 1877; application led l June 30, 1877.

To all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED B. RICE, of Dun-Y unbalanced. Little or no regard is paid to the exposure of the cylinder to exhaust steam. It is also a universal custom to use stuifing-boxes on the valve-stems, which add to the resistance of the valve, and consequently to the difficultiesY of reversing engines from a distance, all of which tend to Wastefulness of steam, and trouble in handling.

Another serious fault in the common valvemotion is the arrangement of guides for the end of valve-stem. As generally constructed, severe strains are brought upon the slender stem, which not only keep stuffing boxes leaky, butstrain and often break the valvestems when the engine is reversed, by throwing over a link.

My invention tends to obviate these faults, as will be seen by reference to the drawings.

Figure l shows a section through center of cylinder, steam-chest, and valve; Fig. 2, enlarged end view ot' valve; Fig. 3, enlarged side View of valve; Fig. 4, end view of the clamps that carry the valve-stem pin; and Fig. 5, top View of same.

The cylinder A is made in one piece with the steam or valve chest. The steam-chest is bored parallel with the main cylinder. The valve V is iitted practically tight inside of the chest, and is alike all around. The ports in the steam-chest also pass entirely around its inner circumference. rIhe valve has a yoke or cross-piece at one end, to which is attached the stem S.

The valve is made as thin as practicable,

and the passage through it is large enough to allow free passage for the exhaust steam. In addition to being very light, the valve has an unusually large bearing-surface, obtained by making the valve full size the entire length, except where the steam is admitted at each end. The head His turned to tit the end of valve-chest, and has a strong projection on its outer side, which is turned parallel outside, and carries the clamps C C, While itis ac-V curately reamed inside to carry the valve-stem. This head has a branch on its lower side for exhaust-pipe connection.

The clamps G are bored or lined, to fit the projecting end of the head H. They are free to turn around it, and to slide lengthwise over it. The two parts are held together by bolts, arranged in pairs, under the nuts of'. which are rubber washers and caps, designed to yield when a shock is received from either above or below on suddenly reversing the i link.

The link and eccentric hooks are carried by the pin P in the end of lower clamp. Near prevents the leakage of any steam through it, and obviates the necessity of a stuffingbox. i

The steam is admitted to the valve through the opening I, and fills the space between the cylinder and valve-chest, generally filled with exhaust steam.

The movements of the valve are directly opposite to that of the common slide-valve. The exhaust on escaping from the cylinder is separated from it at the end of the passages B B, and passes through the valve and head to the exhaust-pipe, thus reducing the con tact of exhaust to a very small surface at each end of' valve-chest, no part. Whatever of the outside of cylinder being Vexposed to it.

Thus it will be seen that this arrangement is economical of steam. not likely to get out of order, costs little, and moves wthsthe very least -amount of frictional resistance.

I do not claim to be the original inventor of round Valves, no1` of round guides for valvestems, nor of valves arranged to Work with' exhaust-pressure only on the valve-stem; but

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of clamps C C, the head H, and the valvestem S, with its collars O 0, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the clamps C U, the head H, the valve-stem, the pin P, and the link L, substantially as set forth.

FRED B. RICE.

Witnesses:

H. G. WATSON, S. HUssEY. 

